Machine for forming and applying plastic gaskets to jar caps



M. G. PARKS Oct. 25, 1932.

MACHINE FOR FORMING AND APPLYING PLASTIC GASKETS TO JAR CAPS Filed Oct. 20. 1950 4 SheetS-ShSeb 1 Oct. 25, 1932. M. G. PARKS 1,834,823

MACHINE FOR FORMNG AND PPLYING PLASTIC GSKETS TO JAR CAPS Filed OC'.. 20. 1930 4 SheeS-Sheet 2 Oct. 25, 1932; I M- G, PARKS 1,884,823

MACHINE FOR FORMING AND APPLYING PLASTIC GASKETS TO JAR CAPS- Filed 001;. 2o. 195o 4 sheets-sheet 5 75 58 Q1 l 1Q@ 1Q '77 i i Y* i 65 l60 NAi/Kv Afke( l wl Q2 12,4+ 60a, a@ Q7 19 If@ g 3'3- 17 all 3g Q5 M. G. PARKS Oct. 25, 1932.

MACHINE FOR FORMING AND APPLYING PLASTIC GASKETS TO JAR CAPS Filed Oct. 20. 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 bodiment of the invention.

Patented Oct. 25, 1932 PATENT OFFICE,

MRRIET G. PARKS, F GARY, INDIANA Mil-.CHINE FOR FORMING- AND .APPLYING PLASTIC GASKETS TO JAR CAPS Application filed October 20, 1930. Serial No. 489,886.

-' ing the gaskets to the caps.

rthe primary object of the invention is to provide a machine having a new and iinproved inode of operation whereby gaskets of raw rubber coinpositionor other plastic i material may be applied to ai` caps quickly,

effectively and uniformly, at a cost substantially lower than has heretofore been possible.

A further object is to provide a machine of the character indicated in which the gasket is made from an elongated strip or strand of plastic material which is applied `in circular form to the cap, with the ends of the strand united and the material compressed to the desired shape in adhering relation to the cap.

@ther objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred eni- In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a machine embodying the invention in its preferred form.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the machine.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view t-aken along the line 33 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 4 4 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmental plan section of the gasket forming and applying means, taken` along the line 5 5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. (i is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken through the gasket forming and appiying means substantially along the line (Sw-6 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a fragniental end elevational view of one of the clamps as viewed from the left in Fig. 6.

Fig. 7 is an end elevational view taken through a machine along the line 7-7 of Fig. 6 with certain `parts of the machine removed.

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 6 showing the parts in t-he positions occupied upon the completion of the gasket applying operation.

Fig. 9 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 9-9 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 10 is an end elevational view of the machine taken from the line 10-10 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 11 is an enlarged fragmental portion of Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 is a vertical section taken along the line 12-12 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 13 is a perspective view of the knife employed to shear the strand of the gasket material.

Figs. 14 and 15 are similar sectional views taken along the line 14-14 of Fig. 7 and showing the feeding clamp in its open and closed positions respectively.

Generally considered, the machine illustrated consists of a gasket-forming and `applying device 10, supported in axial alinenient with a reciprocable plunger l1, together with an indexing holder 12 operable to feed Jar caps 14 one by one into a position between` the plunger 11 and the forming and applying device 10 so that gaskets formed by the device may be pressed onto the caps 14 by coordinated approaching movements of the plunger and the device while the holder remains stationary.

The gas/:1ct forming and applying mechanism In the machine shown herein, a strand 15 of gasket material, preferably of round cross section, is taken directly from a strand forming machine (not shown), and by a feeding mechanism 16 its end is placed in a forming means which forms the end portion of the strand 15 into an annulus suitable for use as a gasket. The aniiulus is then severed from the remainder of the strand and is pressed into position in a j ar cap 14 in a manner such as to shape the gasket and imite the two ends of the severed strand.

T he feeding means and the forming means are in the present case, both rotatable in character and are arranged to act in succession to draw theend portion of the strand over the desired path to form the annulus. Considered generally, the feeding means preferably comprises a disk 17 (Figs. 1, 2, 4, and 7) fixed on a shaft 18 mounted in standards 19 and 20..of the frame 21 and carrying a freleasable feed yclamp 22 (Figs 7, 14 and 15) constitutesin-l part a circle Aforming means. v

This feeding of the strand by the disk 17 continues until the strand is within the range of a clamp 24 (Fig. 7) carried by the winding mandrel.V After automatic operation of the clamp '24 so as to grasp the strand 15, the feed `cla1np22 is released so that continued rotation'of the 'mandrel 23 may draw the strand into circular form yabout the mandrel. Inl order that the end of the strand may be held'close to ythe 'mandrel 23 and within the 'rangeof its clamp 24 f'a's it is fed by` the disk 17, the feed clamp 22 is carried on a slide 25: which is movable radially of the disk 17 as shown in Fig. 7 on rods 26,and is pressed yradiallyoutwardly of the disk 17 by springs 27 surrounding therods L26.' The clamp 22 is best shown in Figs. 14 and 15 and is in the form of a lever extending radially with `res'pectto thedisk 17 and pivoted at 28 upon the slide25 soy that its outer lend is-in opposed relation to a stationary finger 30carri'ed by the slide-and formingthe"otherfniember of the clamp. The cla1np'22'is normally pressed to its open position, shown'in Fig. 14,- by a spring 31Y acting on one end thereof,and is closed'by Vinoven'ient of the opposite end of Vthe clamp .along a cam surface 32 formed on `a stationary cam plate 33 which', in the presentcase, is in the form of la disk mounted on vthe lframe ofthe machine vattiene side o'f the feed disk 17.-

'Rotational --movement imparted to the disk 17 moves the feed clamp I22 toward the end .of the strand 15 (Figs. 7 to 11) and the cutaway portion 34 of the cam surface 32 (Figs. 11, 13 and 14) along which the clamp moves, permits the clamp to be opened by the springI 31. Y A' detailed view of the cam'plate 33 is shown in Fig. 413, which is taken from the far sideo'fthe plate Vas shown in Fig. 11. This view shows the formation of the various cam surfaces.V By the action of the springs 27 the clamp 22 is held in its outward radial position until the two opposed members 30 and :2 2'arel positionedY on opposite Sides of thestrand 15. To insure proper positioning of the strand, guide rollers V35 are positioned inbpposed relation tothe fee-d disk 17 and the clamp 22 is arranged to grasp the strand between the two guide rollers 35. The action ofthe cam surface 32 along Vwhich the clamp 22;moves` pau/ses' the'clamp to be closed until "it lli'as passed toa secondv cutaway'portion 36 (Fig. 13) of the cam surface 32 which permits the clamp to open.

The mandrel 23 is mounted within a sleeve 37 for rotation therewith, the sleeve being rotatably mounted in a bearing head 38 of f vthe clamp 24 4is arranged to operate by press- 1- i'ng the strand against the end of the sleeve 37. l The clamp 24 is preferably mounted principally within the mandrel 23, which is of sleeve-like ,form to` provide space for the clamp and its operating parts, and as shown herein the clamp comprises a movable member inthe form'of a leverV 40 extending diametrically of the mandrel (Figsj, 7, and 8). 'One endfof the lever 40 has a-pair of spaced clampingfingers :41 formed thereon 'f' adapted to 'project ythrough the mandrel 23 and upon pivotal movementof the lever 40, to press the strand `15 longitudinally of the mandrel into contact with the 'end ofthe sleeve 37 The clamping leverv '40'is pivoted at 40a intermediate its'endson'oneend of a -lever y42, which for purposes which will hereinafter appear,` extends longitudinally through 'and is pivotedto a transverse wall 43 inthe mandrel. Thus bypivotal'movementof'the lever about 'its pivot 40a, the clamp isoperated, and in the present 'case the v4clamping fingers 41 project through a'plate44 which is longitudinallyv slidable in the mandrel and which n i' insures an unbroken surface' in the mandrel at'the point where the strand is wound; The

vclamping lever4() is'normally held in'itsopen position bya spring 46 l(Fig.- 6) extending rotatingrn'o'vement of the mandrel 23, a rod 49 is employed `which'i's'slidable longitudinally through the wall 43 and into contact 'with the inner'end'of 'the lever v40. A spring 50 'acting onth'e'I rod '49'normally presses the rod toward the lever 40 but'its movementis restrained by 'a 'trigger 51 'engaging an abut- :rnent 52 onr the'rod and arrangedto be released at a predetermined'pint in the rotative movement'of'the mandrel. A shaft 53 connected to the cross head 47";and serving to rotate the mandrel, also 'serves t'o' support the trigger 51, through the medium offa collar 54 fixed on the shaft. The trigger 51, which is lpivotedonthe collar 5'4 vextends longitudinal* T ly of the shaft 52` and 1is operated by. al plunger 55 which proj ects' diametrically through the shaft 53.' K N H Y One endIV of the plunger' 55"isconnected"at ythrough the wall 43"'aud connected tofthe f 56 to the end of the trigger 51 so that it may Cgi shift the trigger in either' direction, and a spring 57 surrounding the other end of the plunger 55 acts through the plunger to move the trigger 51 yieldingly toward its operative position shown in Fig. 6. ln the oppositie rotative movement of the shaftsll8 and 53, a `cam roller 58 mounted on the end of the plunger 55 is engaged by a cam 60 on the shaft 18 (Figs. 1 and l2) to release the trigger 51 and permit movement of the rod 49 so as to close the clamp 24.

After the clamp 24 has been closed upon the strand, and the clamp 22 released, the mandrel completes its revolution to form an annulus from the strand 15 about the mandrel 23. The rotative movement of the mandrel is then stopped with the annulus positioned in an annular' recess or groove, best shown in Fig. 6, which is formed between the mandrel, the end of the sleeve 37 and a stationary collar 60H which surrounds and projects past the end of the sleeve 37. This groove serves to hold the annulus in the desired form, and the clamp 24 is therefore released at this time. This i s accon'iplislied by means acting to withdraw the rod 49 to a position wherein it held by the trigger 51.

As shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 6, this means comprises a plate 61 fixed on the rod 49 so as to be engaged by the end of a movable lever 62 to withdraw the rod to a position wherein the abutment 52 is behind the shoulder of the trigger 51. The lever62 is mounted on a bracket 63 (Fig. 1) and is actuated through a link 64 connected to a similarly pivoted lever 65. The lever 65 carries a cam roller 66 engaging a grooved cam 67 fixed on a shaft 68 which rotates in timed relation to the rotative movement ofthe mandrel 23.

The sleeve 37 is utilized to move the gasket along the mandrel and to press it into position on the cap 14, and for this purpose the mounting of the sleeve in the bearing 38 is arranged to permit longitudinal movement of the sleeve. Such movement obtained through a roller 69 (Fig. 2) mounted on the lever 65 and engaging a grooved collar 70 fixed on the mandrel shaft 53. In such movement of the sleeve 37, the mandrel 23 moves therewith until the end of the mandrel 23 strikes the cap 14 which is backed up by the plunger 11 and thereafter the sleeve con` tinues its movement independently of the mandrel. Such relative movement is permitted by a yielding lost motion connection, best shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings, wherein it will be seen that cross head 47 extends through longitudinal slots 71 formed in the mandrel. 23. The mandrel 23 is normally projected longitudinally from the end of the sleeve 37 by springs 72 acting between the cross head 47 and the transverse wall 43 of the mandrel, the springs 72 being mounted about rods 73 which extend through the cross head 47 and the wall 43 and have heads thereon which limit the movement of the parts by the springs 72. Y

During the initial part of the advancing movement of the sleeve 37, the annulus formed from the strand 15 is severed from the remainder of the strand by a knife 75 (Figs. 6, 8, 11, and 13) positioned closely adjacent to the upper surface of the sleeve 37 (Fig. 11) and acting as a shearing edge past which the annulus is forced by the sleeve 37. The portion of the strand 15 which is held by the feed clamp 22 extends along the face of the knife at an angle to the cutting edge of the knife and since this portion can not pass the knife 7 the annular portion of the strand which is being moved by the sleeve 37, will be sheared from the held portion 0f the strand so as to leave angularly disposed ends on both 'nortions of the strand. It will be noted that in t-he present case the knife is secured on the stationary plate 33 (Fig. 11) and the body of the knife, therefore, forms a part of the cam surfaces 32, 34, and 36 (Fig. 13).

Since the sleeve 37 must move longitudinally of the mandrel to press the strand onto the cap 14, the clamping fingers 4l of the lever 40 are arranged to slide radially through the plate 44, into an out-of-the-way position shown in Fig. 8, and in such movement the lever 40 is guided by a pin 45 projecting radially inwardly from the plate 44 and loosely engaging an opening in the lever. The withdrawing movement of the lever 4() is obtained by pivotal movement of the lever 42 upon which the lever 40 is mounted, against the action of a spring 48 which normally tends to move the lever 42 so as to project the fingers 41 outwardly of the mandrel to the position shown in Fig. 6.

After the pointed end edge of the mandrel 23 has moved into abutment with the cap 14. the continued movement of the cross iead 47 serves to withdraw the fingers 4i of the clamp 24 radially into the mandrel.. This is accomplished by a cam 76 formed on the cross head 47 and arranged to engage a cam roller 77 on the adjacent end of the lever 42 to move the lever against the force of the spring 48 to the position shown in Fig. 8. Thus, the path of the sleeve 37 is cleared and its movement is continued until the annulus is pressed within the flange 14a of the cap 14.

It will be noted that the advancing movement of the plunger 1l presses the cap 14 positively toward the yielding mandrel 23 until the flange 14a of the cap is positioned within and is laterally supported by the sides of an annular recess 7 8 formed in the outer end ofthe collar 60a (Figs. 7 and 8) and while it is thus held the annulus is compressed to rectangular cross sectional form between the cap 14, its flange 14a, the mandrel 23 and the end of the sleeve 37. It will be seen that the annular recess 78 provides an annular space 5, it will be apparent that V in which the flange 14a may beplaced with its inner surface alined with the inner surface offthecollar .60, 'and the compressing action of the sleeve 37 widens the strand 15 to fill the space between the fiange 14 and the mandrel 23. Such compression serves effectively to join the adjacentangularly cut ends of the strandgand .a continuous annular gasket is thereby formed.

To remove thecap 14-from the recess 78 upon Completion of the attaching operation,

a pair of U-shaped rods 79 are mounted'in the transverse wall 43 (Figs. 6 and 7), with their cross members disposed on opposite sidesvof the axis of the mandrel 23 and adjacent the clamp 24. `One side member 80 of each rod 79 extends longitudinally through the mandrel 23 and out of the other end thereof (Fig. 6), and both are guided in ears 81 l 37, the mandrel resumes its normal position shown in Figs. 5 and 6, 'and the fingers 41 of Y the clamp 24 are projected through the manvdrel so as to be ready for the next clamping operation.

The indexing cap holder The indexing holder 12 is best shown in Figs. 4 and 6 and comprises'a disk of substantial thickness mounted on the overhanging end of a shaft mounted in a. 'bracket 86 (Fig. l) beneath the forming device 10 and extending through the standard 19 of the frame. At equally spaced points about its periphery, the disk 12 has aplurality of seg-` mental pockets 87 formed therein opening outwardly of thedisk and of sufficient width to permit a cap 14 to enter edgewise thereinto. T he disk'12is moved intermittently to position the pockets 87 successively between the mandrel 23 and the plunger 11, the uppermost pocket on the disk beingr the one which is positioned adjacent the mandrel. As shown in Fig. 4, the disk 12 is moved in a counterclockwise direction, and the caps 14 are fed to the pockets 87 of the disk through an inclined chute 88 which discharges a vertically positioned cap 14 into each pocket just before it reaches the uppermost position. It will be seen that the open lower end of the chute 88 is located opposite a position in which the pockets 87 are stopped in the intermittent movement of the disk, so that ample opportunity is provided for the lower cap 14 to f move into the pocket.

The plunger 11 and its mounting I.

The reciprocating plunger 11 is mounted on one end of a shaft 90 (Figs. 1 and 2) which is slidable through a standard 91 of the frame and is actuated by a lever 92 pivoted at one end to the other end of the shaft 90. Intermediate its ends, the lever 92 is pivoted on an adjustable support 93 carried by the standard 91, while at its other end it carries a roller 94 engaging a grooved cam 95 mounted on the end of a constantly rotating shaft 96. By adjusting the support 93, the stroke of the plunger 11 may be adjusted to bring the cap 14 accurately to the desired position.

lf desired, the plunger 11, as well as the chute 88 may be heated by suitable electric heaters 99 and 100 and thestrand 15 may be drawn through an electrically heated guideway 101 (Fig. 4) so as to render the strand more easily workable and insure firm adherence of the gaskets to the caps.

from a single power source such as a motor A102 mounted on the bed 21 with a pinion 103 on its shaft engaging a rgear 104 carried on i "l a horizontal shaft' 105, which is mounted in a standard 106 and extends through the standard 19. On its end adjacent the standard 19, the shaft carries a gear 107 which, through an idler 108, drives a gear 109 fixed on the shaft 68.

The shaft 68 is rotated once for each gasket forming operation and drives the shaft 96 at the same rate through gears 110 and 111 (Figs. 1 and 2) whereby to reciprocate the plunger 11 once for each revolution of the shaft 68, it being understood that the cam 95 has but a single lobe.

ri"he constantly rotating shaft 68 also drives the indexing work holder 12, through the medium lof a Geneva. movement, having a disk 112 fixed to the shaft 68, with a pin 113 (Fig. 4) adapted to engage radial slots 114 in a Geneva wheel v whichis fixed on the shaft 85 of the work holder. rl`he number of slots 114 in the Geneva wheel 115 corresponds to the number of cap-receiving pockets 87 so that each rotation of the'shaft 68 moves'a new To this end the shaft 85 is extended through pocket 87 into position opposite the mandrel the standard and carriesa gear 117 (Figs. 1, 2 'and 3) which through anidler 118 drives a gear 119 on the shaft 53. The idler 118 is preferably made wide enough to `permit longitudinal movement of the shaft 53 in the gasket applying operation.

The gears 117, 11.8, and 119 are proportioned to impart one complete revolution to the mandrel 23 during each advancing movement of the work holder 12, and it will be seen that this rotation of the mandrel takes place while the movement of worlr holder is taking place.

The feed disk 17 is oppositely rotated in timed relation to and at the same speed as the shaft 53 by meshing gears 12() and 121 fixed respectively on the two shafts, and the gear 121 is made of sufficient thickness t'o maintain the two gears in mesh during longitudinal movement of the shaft 53.

peration A strand 15 of pre-formed gasket material, preferably of round cross section, is fed from a strand forming machine (not shown) through the chute 101 to the guide rollers adjacent the intermittently rotating feed disk 17. In the rotation of the disk 17, the clamp 22 carried' thereby is opened, and as the clamp passes the guide rollers 35, it is closed so as to grasp the strand and draw it toward the adjacent periphery of the oppositely rotating mandrel 23.

The normal stopped position of the feed disk `17 is such that the end of the strand 15 is adjacent to the mandrel 23 as shown in Fig. 7, while the fingers 41 of the clamp 24 project through the mandrel adjacent to the end. of the strand. When opposite rotation of the feed disk 17 and the mandrel is started, the clamp 22 moves across the adjacent periphery of the mandrel, and due to outward radial movement of the clamp 22 by the sprin 27, the end of the strand is held close to the mandrel. 23 for an appreciable distance. During such movement of the strand 15, its end is automatically secured rto the mandrel 23 by the fingers 41 of the clamp .24 which press the strand against the adjacent end of the sleeve 37. i

lt will be recalled that the clamp 24 is normally projected `through the mandrel 23 by the spring 48, and is held in its unclamped position by the spring 4f', and its automatic clamping movement is obtained through the action of a cam upon the plunger 55 which releases the trigger 51 (F ig. 6) and permits the spring pressed rod49 to strike and actuate the lever 40.

lifter the clamp 24 has been closed, thecut away section 36 of the cam surface 32`per1nits the clamp 22 to be opened so as to release the stra-nd from the feed disk` 17 and permit it` to be drawn by the clamp 24 into a circle in the space between the mandrel 23, the collar 60a and the sleeve 37.

J ust prior to the completion of a full revolution by the mandrel 23, the clamp 22, which is then open, is actuated by movement across the cam surfaces 34, 32, so as to clamp the strand 15 to the feed dish 17 which holds the strand 15 while it is severed' from the annulus formed about the mandrel.

AThe strand 15 severed by advancing movement of the sleeve 37 which acts as a shearing member in cooperation with the knife to cut the strand at an angle close to the clamp 22 which is then stationary.

As the sleeve advances, (to the left in Fig. 6) the clamp 24 is opened by withdrawal of its actuating rod 49, to a position wherein it is held by the trigger 51, this being accomplished by the lever 62 (Fig. 1) operated from the lever 65 which reciprocates the sleeve 37. At substantially the same time, the projecting fingers 41 of the clamp 24 are drawn radially inwardly of the mandrel by the action of the cam 73 which moves with the sleeve 37 and acts to rock the lever 42 upon which the clamp 24 is mounted.

During such advancing movement of the sleeve 37, the mandrel 23 moves longitudinally with the sleeve by reason of the springs 72 (F ig. 5) and approaches the cap 14 which is then being advanced `toward the mandrel by movement of the plunger 11. While the cap 14 is being positioned by the cooperative action of the plunger 11 and the mandrel 23 and therecess 78, the advancing movement of the sleeve 37 continues, and1 after the positioning of the cap is completed the annular strand is compressed `onto the cap into rectangular cross sectional form with united ends, as shown in Fig. 8.

The withdrawing movement of the plunger 11 and the sleeve 37 then takes place, and the finished cap is moved back into the pocket 87 of the indexing holder 12 by the action of the pring pressed rods 79, the springs 83 of which have been compressed during the gasket applying operation.V

As the sleeve 37 is withdrawn, the springs 7 2 move the mandrel 23 to the leftrelatively to the sleeve, so that the endv of the mandrel projects from the sleeve asshown in Fig. 6. This relative movement withdraws the cam 76` and permits the spring 48 to project the clamping fingers 41 outwardly through the mandrel.

The. mechanism is then conditioned for another rotative movement to form another annulus from the strand 15, and such movement occurs automatically due to the driving connection between indexing holder 12 and the "2 strand feeding and circle forming devices.

During such rotative movement of the mandrel to form another annulus, the work holder 12 moves the finished cap 14 outV of the machine and advances another capfrom lill) the chute'88 to aposition between the mandrel and the plunger `11, so that the 'annulusmay be pressed thereon in 'the next reciprocation of the sleeve 37. l Y From the foregoing it Will be apparent thatrthe-invention provides a fully 'automatic machine for forming gaskets and applying them' to jar caps and that byforming the gaskets from a pre-formed strand vof materiafl, uniformity of -the gaskets is insured It vvi'lll also-'be seen that the machine is adapted foi-*operation at :high speeds since the form of the gasket materia-lis changed only slightf ly bythe machine. The method of making and applying gasa kets land the novel gasket -construction herein disclosed is claimed in my copendingapplicatinn,Seria-l` No. 499,908, filed December 4, 1930:' f' I 1 I 'claim as my invention:

"l: A imacfhinef'tor forming and applying plastic gaskets to jar capsfco'mprising, in combination, means operable to form one end of-a st'randfoflgasketmaterial into a circle, means-operable to sever the'circularfly formed portion of tlie''strand't`rom theiiemainder of the strand, fa' clamp operable to hold said strandadj acentto sa-idcircular portion While said severing operation is performed, a cap presenting deviceyand 'means operable to pressthe circle ofgasket'material onto a cap presented by said device. f

'Qn-Al machineyof' he character described comprising ak clamp adapted to grasp the end of a strand of plastic material, means to move said clamp 'in a'circular path to fiormy the strandx into'an annulus, means to'release the clamp atter'the -annulus has'been formed, and means' operable to press the annulus onto a jar cap.

'SLfA machine of the character described comprising ya pair of members having an annular spacefitherebetweenA to receive` a 'strand of gasket material'arranged in circular Iform about theinner 'one of said members with its' ends substantially in abutment, means to so arrange a strand'in' said space, the outerI one Iof said "members4v being annularly recessedfat one endto receive the flange of a' cap With the-inner surface of the flange alined Withtheinner vsurface o'f'said outer member, and a plunger of' cylindrical Jform movable through said space to" forcesaid `v`eircularistrand onto a jar cap heldin abutment with said members whereby to Widen said strandv asy Adr'et'erminedy by the space between said iangefand said inner member and press its ends together to form a continuous annular *4. A machine of the character described having a pairof members with an annular' Space therebetween lt`o"receive la strand' of gasket material arranged in I 'circular form aboutthe inner one of 'said members With'its' Vends substantially in abutment, the outer lonev of said members being annula'rlyv recessedV at one end to provide space to receive the tlange of a jar cap With the innerv surface oit said flange alined with the inner surface of said outer member, and a sleeve-like vplunger' movableV through the space between said members to force said strand into abutment with a flanged jar caphavingits flanged edge Withinthe annular recess in said outer member, said plunger acting to Widen said strip as determined by the space between said flange and said inner member and to join the adjacent ends of the strand to form a gasket.v

5. A machine of the character Vdescribed having a pair of members providing an annular space therebetweenv to receive a strand of gasket material arranged in circular form about the inner-one of said members' with its ends adjacent to-each other, means to hold a jar cap in abutment Withf' said concentric members, a plunger movable through said space to compress the strand onto a cap held against said members'by said means, said inner member having a longitudinal opening therethrough, and means movable in said openinglongitudinally vof said Vmembers and operableto lforce the cap away `from said members when said holding means is removed.

6L A machine of the character described comprising, iin' combination, a pair oi members providing an annular space therebetween opening longitudinally of said members' and adapted to receive a strand of gasket material arranged in circular form about the inner one of said members, a vcap presenting member adapted to'hold a jar cap in abutment with said members and in closing relation to said space, a plunger movable through said space to press the strand onto such a cap, an elcment movable longitudinally Within the inner one of 1said members and operable to move acap longitudinally avvay from said members when said cap presenting member is Withdravvm'and a'spring acting on said element arrangedto be compressed by a cap as it is moved toward said members.

7. A 'machine of the character described comprising, in combination, a rotatably mounted mandrel, a sleeve surrounding said mandrel and movable longitudinally with respect thereto, means for intermittently rotating'said mandrel'through one revolution, a clamp for securing one end of a strand of gasket material to said mandrel to form a circle from said strand during rotation'oi the mandrel, and means for reciprocating said sleeve to moveV the circle of gasket material longitudinallyv of said mandrel to compress the material against a jar cap.

8; A machine of the character described comprising a rotatably mounted mandrel, ,a sleeve A'surrounding said mandrel and movable longitudinally vvith respect thereto,

means orintermittently rotating said man# drel through oneV revolution, a clamp for securing one end of a strand ol gaslretmau terial to said mandrel to torni a circle from said strand during' rotation of said mandrel, reciproczdingg` means for moving said sleeve to compress the circle or gasket material against a jar cap, and means acting.;` es an incident to the advancingl movement ot' said sleeve to release said clamp and move the same to an inoperative out-otthc-Way tion.

9. A machine el the character described comprising a rotatably mounted man lrel, a sleeve surrounding` said mandrel and movable longitudinall;Y *ith respect thereto, means tor interimitteinth,r iptating,4 sa id mandrel through one revolution, aclainp for securing one end of a strand t ma terial to said mandrel to form a orcle from said strand duran reciprocating meansfor moving' said n to compress the circle oi gas ret material against a jar cap, and means operating said sleeve is advanced to move said clan 'adiallv' inwardly into said mandrel.

ld. A machine of the character described comprising, in combination, a rotatably mounted mandrel, a sleeve und l mandrel and movable longituni' y there on, means for .'ntermittently rota mandrel through one revolition, a c. mounted within said mandrel and e ing outwardly through the surface mandrel, said clamp being movable tudinallv of said mandrel to press a of: gasket material against the `end oil" sleeve and also being movable radiall?.Y i Wardly of t said mandrel to clear the pali o said sleeve so that it may moved lon tudinally ofthe mandrel, means operatie" the initial portion oli a rotative 1n veaent said mandrel to close said clamp, means 'for reci',llirocatin,gr said sleeve, and means a as said sleeve is movedL Lvovfard said claniij) to Withdraw the clamp radially inwardly,T into said sleeve.

ll. A machine et the character compris` ig, in combination, a rotatably mounted mandrel., a sleeve surrounding' said mandrel and movable longitndinallj,T thereon, means for rotating; said mandrel, a movable longitudinallv of said man(` press a strand of g5; siret material against end ot said sleeve, yielding; means e at a predetermined point the roteren et said mandrel to close said clamp, `said clamp being' mounted for movement out oit the nath of said sleeve, and means operating as reid sleeve is moved toward said ch draw said clamp 'from the path or e A.. machine of the character having a rotatable :n ndrel, a mmfab..o c mounted on said mandrel ior rotation t With, a springnormally holding` said clamp in one position, a spriirav pressed member mounted on s id mandrel and operable to move said lamp to its other position, a trigoperable to hold said member in an inoperative position, means operable to move said trigger and release said member for opera tion, and means operable to restore said meinber to its inoperative position.

13. A machine o1 the character eescribed comprising a rotatable mandrel., sleeve surrounding said mandrel and movable longitudinally thereon, a clamp .vithin said mandrel comprising a lever extending diametrically thereof with a clamping linger project ing through the outer surface of the mandrel, a member upon which said lever is pivoted, said member being' mounted for movement diametricall7 of said` mandrel to move said clamoing linger through said mandrel, means to' pivot said lever, and means operable to shift said member.

le. A machine of the character described comprising a rotatable mandrel, sleeve surroundinp,l said mandrel and movable longitudinally thereon7 a clamp Within said mandrel comprising a lever extending diametrically thereof with a clampingr linger projecting through the outer surface of the mandrel, a member upon which said lever is pivoted, said member beingmounted for movement diametrically of said mandrel to move said clamping linger through said mandrel, a rod mounted Within said mandrel for sliding move nent into abutment with said lever to pivot the same in one direction, a spring for moving said lever in the other direction, a .spring acting on said rod to move it to its operative position, means controlling' the action oi' said rod upon said lever, and cam means acting'in the longitudinal movement ol said sleeve to control the position of said member.

l5. fi machine of the character described comprising a rotatable mandrel, sleeve surroun ding; said mandrel and movable longitudinally thereon, a clamp Within said mandrel comprisinp, a lever eatending` diametrically thereof with a clamping finger projecting through the outer surface of the mandrel, a member upon which said lever is pivoted, said member being' mounted for movement diametricallv of said mandrel to move id clamping finger through said mandrel, means operating; in the rotative movement of said mandrel to actuate said lever, and means connected to said sleeve and operating on said member duri 5' movement of said sleeve along said man( rel to control the position of said member.

lp. ,er machine of the character set forth having a Winding i Aandrei, a clamp thereon, a device operable to present the end of a ftranr. of plastic material to said clamp,

means for rotating' the mandrel through one revolution, and means for severnib,f the strand er one revolu nv to form a ring, the feed device beingl adapted to hold the remainder 'i l su d ftrth i ti oi trie stran a ei e seveiing opera ion.

17. A machine of the character described having a winding mandrel, a clamp thereon, a. feed disk having a clamp thereon adapted to gi'asp the end of a strand of plastic material to feed the same to the clamp on said mandrel, means to rotate said mandrel and said feed disk each through one revolution in opposite directions, and means for severing the strand after formation of a ring about the mandrel, the clamp on said feed disk being adapted to hold the remainder of the strand after the severing operation.

18. A machine of the character described comprising a rotatable mandrel, a sleeve surrounding and rotating With said mandrel and movable longitudinallyl of said mandrel, means for rotating said mandrel, means for reci rocatin@ said sleeve a clam o erable to at predetermined points in the movement of said sleeve.

19. A vgasket forming and applying machine having a rotatable mandrel, a sleeve surrounding said mandrel and movable longitudinally thereof, a clamp on said mandrel for grasping a strand of gasket material, said clamp being positioned during its operation in the path of reciprocationfof said sleeve, means for operating said clamp, and means for moving it out of the path of said sleeve.

20. A machine of the character described comprising, in combination, means including a first clamp 'operable to grasp 'the end 'of a strand and movable in a circular path to form the strand into an annulus, a strand feeding device comprising a feeding clamp movable for a short distance along the path of said first clamp to move the end of a strand into the clamping range of said first clamp, and means for automatically operating said clamps to transfer the control of the strand from said feeding clamp to said first clamp during feeding movement of the strand.

21. ln a gasket forming machine, the combination of a rotatable mandrel and rotatable feed disk mounted on parallel axes With the peripheries adjacent to each other, means to rotate the mandrel and the feed disk simultaiieously in opposite directions in intermittent movements of one revolution each, guide rollers mounted in opposed relation to the periphery of the feed disk over Which a strand of insulation material may move, a feed clamp on said disk adapted to grasp such a strand7 means operable toclose said feed clamp upon the strand as the clamp passes said rollers so as to'draw said strand along the periphery of said mandrel, a second clamp on said mandrel, means operable in the rotation of said mandrel to close said clamp upon the strand as it is advanced by said feed clamp, means operable upon completion of the revolution of the mandrel to open said second clampandmeans to sever the circularly formed portion of the strand from the remainder of the strand.

22. A. gasket forming machine comprising ya mandrel and a feed disk mounted on parallel axes for simultaneous rotation in opposite directionswith their peripheries adjacent, a first clamp on said mandrel, a feed clamp mounted on said feed disk for limited movement radially thereof, spring means acting' to move said feed clamp outwardly of said disk to hold said feed clamp against said mandrel for a substantial distance, means operable to close said first clamp on a strand presented by said feed clamp, and means subsequently operable to release said feed clamp.

23. In a machine ofthe character described, the combination of intermittently rotatable means operable in each rotation to form a strand yof gasket material into an annulus, means reciprocable While said rotatable means is stationary to move the annulus longitudinally of the airis of said rotatable means, an indexing holder for moving caps one by one into the path of said reciprocating means, and driving mechanism operable simultaneously to index said holder and rotate said first mentioned means.

24. A gasket forming and applying machine comprising, in combination, means operable to forman annular gasket, a stationary sleeve through Which the formed gasket may be moved, a plunger for so moving the gasket, said member having an annular rein its end in Which a jar cap may be positioned and seated in the path of the gasket, means operable to position jar caps one by one in alinement With said recess, a second plunger operable to move each cap into said seat, means for reciprocating said plungers toward and away from each other in timed relation, and means operable to move each cap from its seated position in .said rec-ess.

`25. A gasket` forming and applying machine coniprising a cylindrical member, means operable to form a plastic annular gasket-'about said member, meansoperable to move the gasket longitudinally of said membei,a plunger alined with and movable to- Ward said member, an intermittently movable cap holder positioned between said member and said plunger, said holder having a plurality of pockets formed therein each adapted to hold a jar cap, said pockets being arrangd to permit said plunger to be moved therethrough, means operable to reciprocate said plunger to move a cap from the alined pocket into contact with said member While a gasket is dressedontor said cap, and means operable upon Withdrawal of said' plunger to return the cap to the pocket.

26. A gasket applying machine comprising movable means for pressing a asket onto a oap, a seat in which a cap may e positioned while the gasket is applied, a plunger for moving caps into said seat, and a cap sup` plying device comprising a disk positioned in a vertical plane with its upper` portion between said means and said plunger, said disk having a plurality of equidistantly spaced pockets formed therein opening through the disk and through the periphery thereof, means to index said disk to bring said pockets successively into a position between said means and said plunger, and an inclined run- Way terminating at the periphery of the disk and arranged to discharge a cap into each pocket as it is moved upwardly toward said position.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto affixed my signature.

MERRITT G. PARKS. 

